3. Changing School

On Saturday morning, Mary sat down at the kitchen table where her mom, Rosemary, was preparing breakfast. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the scent of pancakes, creating a cozy atmosphere.

"Hey, Mary," Rosemary began as she flipped a pancake, "I was thinking more about what we discussed yesterday. Have you given any more thought to exploring other schools?"

Mary took a sip of orange juice, considering her mom's question. "Yeah, Mom, I have. I think I'm ready to see what else is out there. It could be a good opportunity."

Rosemary's face lit up with excitement as she pulled out a stack of pamphlets and brochures from her bag. "Great! Look what I've got for you, Mary."

Mary glanced at the stack, then back at her mom with a playful smirk. "Seriously, Mom? Did you raid the entire school counselor's office?"

Rosemary laughed, spreading out the pamphlets and brochures like a fan on the kitchen table. "Hey, I'm just preparing you for a world of possibilities!"

Mary picked up one pamphlet that had a picture of Castle Hill High School on the cover. "Castle Hill High School? Mom, is this a medieval fortress or a school?"

Rosemary chuckled. "It's not quite a castle, but they have a strong academic program and great extracurriculars."

Mary couldn't help but laugh at her mom's playful response. "Okay, okay, let's see what else we've got here."

Mary nodded, flipping through the pamphlet for Riverview Academy. "And Riverview Academy? Is that where all the future CEOs and world leaders are bred?"

Rosemary smiled, nodding approvingly. "Exactly. I thought these two would give you a good range of options."

Mary set down the pamphlets with a grin. "Thanks, Mom. Let's see if I can survive the dragon-free school experience."

They both laughed, continuing to discuss the merits of each school over breakfast. Mary found herself genuinely interested in what each school had to offer, despite their humorous banter.

"So, what's next?" Mary asked, setting aside the pamphlets. "Visits to these grand establishments?"

Rosemary nodded enthusiastically. "Absolutely! We'll schedule some visits next week. It'll be like our own little school tour."

Mary smirked. "Just promise me no more surprise medieval-themed school choices, okay?"

Rosemary chuckled. "Deal. No castles or dragons."

The next moment, as they sat down to finalize Mary's application for Castle Hill High School, Rosemary glanced at the calendar. "We'll schedule your interview for Monday. That way, we can visit the school and get everything set."

Mary nodded eagerly, filled with anticipation. "Sounds good, Mom. I can't wait to see the school."

Mary settled into her bed, her fingers tapping lightly on the phone's screen as she opened the messaging app to chat with Zoe. It had been a busy day, gathering documents and filling out forms for her application to Castle Hill High School. As she typed, she knew she needed to share the news with Zoe, her best friend who always had a knack for understanding her motivations.

She started typing, "Hey Zoe! How's your day been?"

Zoe's reply popped up almost instantly, "Hey Mary! It's been okay. Just got home. What about you?"

Mary paused for a moment, her thoughts drifting to the decision she had made earlier that day. She took a deep breath, then began typing again, "I've got something big to tell you. Can we chat about it?"

Zoe's response was immediate, "Of course! What's up?"

Mary hesitated for a moment, searching for the right words. Finally, she typed thoughtfully, "I think I'm going to change schools."

Zoe's reply popped up almost instantly, "Oh wow! Why?"

Mary noticed a slight shift in Zoe's tone, sensing her friend's underlying feelings despite her supportive words. She wanted to address it sensitively.

Mary typed back, "Hey, I know it's a big change, but you'll always be my best friend no matter what school I'm in. We'll still hang out all the time!"

Zoe's response was quick, but Mary could sense a hint of melancholy, "Yeah, of course! I'm happy for you, Mary. It's just... things will be different."

Mary understood Zoe's concern and wanted to reassure her. "I know it'll be different, but some things will stay the same. We'll still be us, Zoe. Promise."

Zoe's reply came after a brief pause, "Yeah, you're right. We'll figure it out. I'm here for you, always."

Mary continued the conversation with Zoe, feeling a mix of excitement and empathy for her friend's emotions.

Mary typed, "How about we meet up tomorrow? Let's hang out like we always do."

Zoe's response came swiftly, "Sure, that sounds great! Where do you want to meet?"

Mary thought for a moment, then replied, "Let's meet at the park in the afternoon. We can grab some ice cream and just relax."

Zoe agreed eagerly, "Perfect! I'll see you there tomorrow, Mary."

Mary smiled as she read Zoe's reply, feeling grateful for her friend's understanding and willingness to spend time together despite the changes ahead. She quickly responded, "Can't wait! It'll be fun 😊"

The next day, Mary arrived at the cafe, her excitement palpable as she secured a cozy corner table by the window. Zoe breezed in a few minutes later, looking slightly wind-blown but energized.

"Hey, Mary! Sorry I'm fashionably late. Traffic was an absolute nightmare!" Zoe exclaimed, plopping down in the seat across from Mary.

Mary grinned, sipping her latte. "Fashionably late, huh? I see you've upgraded from fashionably on time."

Zoe rolled her eyes playfully. "You know me, always arriving dramatically. So, spill the beans! How's the whole Castle Hill adventure shaping up?"

Mary leaned in, lowering her voice dramatically. "Well, the application is in, the interview is set for Monday, and my mom's already planning my entire academic future."

Zoe gasped dramatically, clutching her heart. "Oh no! The dreaded mom master plan strikes again! Do you think we should stage a cafeteria rebellion?"

Mary chuckled at Zoe's suggestion, leaning back in her chair. "A cafeteria rebellion? That might be the only way to stop the mom agenda!"

Zoe grinned mischievously. "Seriously, though, Mary. Why the sudden switch? You've been at your current school forever."

Mary sighed, stirring her latte thoughtfully. "Well, you know I've always loved computers, right? Castle Hill has this amazing program, and I figured it's time to level up."

Zoe nodded slowly, a thoughtful look crossing her face. "True, true. I can see you hacking into the school system already, Mary."

Mary raised an eyebrow. "Hey, no incriminating evidence here! But seriously, it's all about the opportunities. Plus, I might finally learn how to program a robot to do my chores."

Zoe laughed. "Now you're speaking my language! Maybe I should transfer too. We could rule Castle Hill with our robot minions."

Mary grinned, feeling lighter as they bantered back and forth. "Absolutely. You can be my VP of Robot Operations."

Zoe nodded thoughtfully. "That's awesome, Mary. I'm glad you're following your passion. And hey, I'll visit you at Castle Hill. We can still have our epic study sessions."

Mary smiled gratefully. "Thanks, Zoe. It means a lot to have your support. I'm gonna miss hanging out with you here though."

Zoe raised an eyebrow mischievously. "Who says we can't sneak into each other's schools for lunch?"

Mary laughed. "Now there's a rebellion worth starting!"

*****

Next Afternoon, The interview proceeded smoothly as Mary answered questions about her academic achievements, her passion for computer science, and her aspirations for the future. She felt more at ease as the conversation flowed, encouraged by Ms. Ramirez's positive responses.

After what felt like both an eternity and a blink of an eye, the interview concluded. Mary and Rosemary thanked Ms. Ramirez for her time and headed back home, reflecting on the experience.

"I think it went well," Mary said tentatively as they drove home.

Rosemary smiled warmly. "You did great, Mary. I'm proud of you."

Mary felt a sense of relief and excitement. Whether she would be accepted at Castle Hill High School remained to be seen, but she knew she had given it her best shot.

As they drove back home, Mary couldn't help but replay the interview in her mind. She felt a mix of relief and anticipation, hoping that her enthusiasm for computer science and her eagerness to explore new opportunities had made a positive impression.

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